Jonathan Freedland: The world’s verdict will be harsh if the US rejects the man it yearns for.

Well, golly, if the world yearns for Barack Obama they can damn well invite him to run for office there. Although somehow I doubt the son of an African would even be in the running for the top job in, say, England.

Perhaps I’m wrong. But England has plenty o’ black people. Have there been any in slots comparable to Secretary of State, let alone in the running for Prime Minister?

But the headline is not the only bit o’ nonsense.

She (Governor Palin) even seems to have claimed “per diem” allowances – taxpayers’ money meant for out-of-town travel – when she was staying in her own house.

We have this thing called research.  Doing a modest amount of this is revealing.  Her own house is in Wasilla.  The state capitol is in Juneau.  The distance between the two is what is commonly called ‘a whole bunch’ – call it 600 miles.

Per diem is used to offset additonal expenses incurred living away from home. It’s pretty common – I’m surprised Mr. Freedland seems unfamiliar with the concept – which is usually the case when an author wraps something in scare quotes.  Perhaps he needs to talk with his HR rep at the Guardian – I suspect he’s earned some during his travels for his employer and might be owed some money.

Cross posted to Space For Commerce.